Game device



Nov. 28, 1961 os-rER E 3,010,722

GAME DEVICE Filed Feb. 3, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.|

' INVENTOR: RAYMOND R. OSTERGREN United States Patent Ofilicelifilfifizz Patented Nov. 28, 1961 3,010,722 GAME DEVICE Raymond R.Ostergren, El Cajon, Calif. (1302 W. River Terrace, McHenry, Ill.) FiledFeb. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 713,026 4 Claims. (Cl. 273145) This inventionrelates to a game or amusement device which is also adapted foreducational purposes.

The new game device or apparatus is designed to contain, shake, mix,align, and display a plurality of sets of indicating elements, cubes ordice, referred to hereinafter for convenience as dice. The deviceoperates to perform the foregoing functions independently yetsimultmeously with each of the plural sets of dice.

The object of the device is to produce random mixing of the dice setsfollowed by display of the sets in adjacent files or columns, so thatthe dice in adjacent files fall in transverse rows for comparison of thedice in each row. A variety of pairing or matching games can be played,based upon any type of indicia on the dice and upon any plural number ofsets of dice. When the dice are provided with letters, word games can beplayed. The degree of matching or mismatching between adjacent membersof the several sets of dice may be determined, in playing variousmatching games. The device provides empirical means for determiningprobabilities of matching pairs or the like following random mixing ofthe sets, and thus serves as a useful educational or like device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple and compactdevice of the character described, which is readily and economicallyconstructed and operated.

An additional object is to provide a versatile game device. The deviceis adaptable to any number of plural sets of dice. Changeable dice arepreferably provided, which are readily provided with any desired indiciaor symbols thereon.

Another object is to provide a sturdy and durable yet lightweightconstruction in a game or educational device as described.

These and other objects, advantages and functions of the invention willbe apparent on reference to the specification and to the attacheddrawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, in whichlike reference characters identify like parts in each of the views andin which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the housing for the game device, witha part broken away to show rows of dice therein;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the device with the side panel orplate removed;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one die, with a part brokenaway;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2;and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 55 of FIGURE 2.

T he invention resides in the new combination and arrangement of partsproviding the new game device, and in the provision of a new die,especially adapted to cooperate in the device.

The game device includes a combination of a novel housing and aplurality of sets of dice. The housing includes a plurality of adjacentsections, each of which encloses a set containing a plurality of dice.The sections are separated by dividers. Each section includes a displayarm or alley communicating with a mixing chamber or zone. Theconstruction preferably provides restricted movement of the 'dice ineach section, restricted to sliding movement and turning movement aboutone axis of each die. Each display alley preferably holds a single fileon the dice, and adjacent alleys form rows of dice thereacross. Meansare provided for viewing the rows of dice.

A new and improved cubic die is also provided. The die has a medialgroove circumscribing it on four sides. A circumscribing band is mountedin the groove, and it bears indicia located on the sides of the die. Theremaining two sides or ends of the die are preferably substantiallyflat.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates the housing for the gamedevice, generally indicated by the numeral 1. The remaining componentsof the game device constitute a plurality of sets of game dice, one ofwhich is illustrated in FIGURE 3 and generally indicated by the numeral2.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated, the housing 1has a banjo-shaped profile or outline, and it includes an elongateddisplay arm 3 connected to a vertically enlarged generally cylindricalchamber, bowl, or end 4. In describing and claiming the invention,reference to vertical and horizontal contemplates the position of thedevice as illustrated in FIG- URE 2, which is the position in which itwill be normally used. However, such description is not intended tolimit the manner of operation or position of the device, but thedirections are only relative.

The housing 1 in the illustrative embodiment is a combination of threehorizontally aligned parallel sections 5a, 5b, and 5c, which areidentical. From two to any number of adjacent sections may be joinedtogether, each section housing one set of a plurality of dice 2. Eachsection is trough-like or hollow and has two principal compartments. Thesection includes a generally cylindrical mixing chamber or zone 6a, 6b,or 60, communicating and aligned with a display arm, duct or alley 7a,7b, or 7c having a rectangular cross section of constant dimensions forthe length of the alley. The widths or transverse dimensions of themixing chambers and of the alleys are the same.

Each section 5a, b, and c is a single piece, preferably constructed ofmolded or cast plastic or synthetic resin. The sections are joinedtogether by conventional means for joining them, and with plasticconstruction, may be joined with adhesives and the like. To assist injoining the sections and aligning them, a number of integral plasticprojections or pegs 8 are provided at locations distributed around thefree edges of the section, and they are received in correspondingrecesses or seats 9 in the adjacent sections, to interlock the sections.Referring to FIGURE 5, the adjacent sections are provided withinterengaging shoulders and recessed edges for nesting the sections andinterlocking them. Thus, a shoulder 10 is provided slightly inwardlyfrom the periphery of the side 11 of each section, at its freeextremity. At the opposite extremity of each side is a recessed corner12 which seats on the shoulder 10 of the adjacent section.

The mixing chamber 6a, b, and c of each of the sections 5a, b, and cincludes a centrally located integral deflector, numbered respectively13a, 13b, and 13c. The deflector serves to thoroughly randomly mix theset of dice in each section, in the mixing chamber or zone, and also tosomewhat slow the return of the dice to the funnel-like mouth 14provided at the communicating end of each alley 7a, b, and c. Withineach mixing chamber, small semi-cylindrical bumpers 6 are formedintegrally with the side 11 of each section, and are spaced around theside. They serve as deflectors to enhance the mixing action.

Integral closure construction 15 is provided at the opposite, free endor extremity of each individual arm or alley. Strength and rigidity isfurnished in each section of the housing by a truss 16, constructed ofthe floor 17 of each alley, a spaced converging outer base 18 for eachalley, and interconnecting reinforcing struts 19.

The last or open section 50 in the housing 1 is closed by a coextensivecover panel or plate 20, which is joined and interlocked in the samemanner as the adjacent sections.

The construction of the several sections, deflectors, and the coverpanel is preferably of molded or cast plastic. Thus, thermoplasticorganic synthetic resins may be employed, such as polystyrene and vinylpolymers. Synthetic organic thennosetting resins may also be employed,such as phenol-aldehyde, urea-aldehyde, and like resins. The parts maybe constructed of trans parent, translucent, or opaque materials,preferably translucent to opaque, With some light transmission, thedevice is especially adapted for producing various lighting effects bylighting means included in or adjacent the device, not shown.

Each section is constructed to separately enclose a set of a pluralityof dice. The plane end walls 21a, 21b, and 210 of the respectivesections 5a, b, and c constitute vertical dividers or partitionsseparating the sections and defining the respective mixing chambers orzones 6a, b, and c. The dividers extend in the direction of enlargementof the chamber 4 and throughout the chamber and the display arm 3 of thehousing 1, so that the sets of dice in the several sections areseparated from each other.

Two or more sections 5a, b, etc. and the cover panel 20 are joinedtogether, and a set of dice such as illustrated in FIGURE 3 is suppliedto each section. The display arm 3 is then closed and completed bymounting a transparent viewing panel 22 on its upper side. This panelmay be constructed of glass or, preferably, transparent plastic such asone of those resins referred to above.

The construction of the housing sections 5a, b, and c and the preferredconstruction of the dice 2 together comprise means restricting movementof the dice in each section to sliding movement and turning movementabout a single axis of each die, which may also be referred to asmovement restricted to one plane. Thus, the distance between adjacentdividers 21a, b, and c, and between the cover panel 20 and thesucceeding divider 21c, is only slightly greater than the length of thedice, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. This width is the same in the alleys7a, b, and c and in the mixing chambers 6a, b, and c. The contactingsurfaces of the dividers are substantially flat. A pair of oppositepreferably substantially square ends 23 of the dice are constructed sothat the dice slide or revolve between the dividers without changingposition in any other manner, as by turning end over end, the ends 23always remaining in the same planes. For this purpose, the opposite ends23 preferably have fiat or substantially flat surfaces. The dice slideon these surfaces and turn or revolve exclusively about the axis passingthrough the center of each end 23, when in the mixing chambers 6a, b,and c. The dice may remains in the alley. Each mixing chamber or zone6a, b, and c restricts movement of each die to sliding movement on thesurfaces of the opposite ends 23, or on the sides 24 of the dice aroundthe inner surface of the chamber side 11, and to turning or revolvingmovement about the axis joining the centers of these ends. The dice turnlike barrels in the mixing chambers, so that any one of the four sides24 may be uppermost when a die enters the mouth 14 of an alley andproceeds down the alley. V

Dice having the construction described and illustrated are referred toas cubic; however, they need not be true cubes in order to provide thedevice functioning according to the invention. Thus, the sides 24 neednot be square but may be oblong as illustrated. The sides 23 and 24preferably present flat surfaces for contacting the housing 1, but theymay be slightly convex or concave while still accomplishing the objectsof the invention. At times it may be advantageous to provide suchvariations for reducing friction, easier entry to the mouth 14 of thealley, and other purposes.

The dice 2 may be hollow or solid, and they are prefer ably constructedof a plastic such as described above, Lighting elfects such as alsodescribed above may be achieved by construction of transparent totranslucent material.

move in the same manner in the alleys 7a, b, and 0, but

it is preferred that the depth of the alleys in relation to thethickness of the dice be limited as shown to prevent the dice fromchanging position by turning about the aforementioned axis.

The remaining four sides 24 of provided with flat surfaces or surfacesof such a nature as to cause the dice to rest on one side 24 on thefloor 17 of the alley, without changing their position.

In this manner, each of the alleys or arms 7a, b, and c of display arm 3restricts movement of the dice to sliding movement on one of the sides24 of the dice in the preferred construction, or on the ends 23 of thedice depending on the position of the housingl. The dice do not turn orrevolve in the alley a sufficient amount to change position. Once a die2 enters an alley with one side 24 uppermost, this side remainsuppermost and visible through the viewing panel 22 so long as the diethe dice 2 are likewise In the preferred embodiment of the invention, anovel die is provided having a medial groove 25 between the oppositeends 23, which circumscribes the die on the remaining four sides. Inthis groove is mounted a removable circumscribing band or strip '26,which likewise may be of either light-transmitting or opaque material.The band may be constructed of plastic, fabric, or other flexiblematerial, so that it is easily applied and removed.

The circumscribing band 26 is imprinted or otherwise provided in eachportion corresponding to one of the sides 24 of the die, with anydesired indicia, such as letters of the alphabet, as illustrated,numerals, pictorial matter, and any of various other indici-a servingfor the play of a game or for educational purposes. Each side may bear adifferent symbol, or some or all of the symb-ols on one die may be thesame. It is also contemplated that on occasion one side may be leftblank, and the band 26 need not be provided onfsuch a side. The bandsmay be changed or replaced by bands bearing different indiciacorresponding to diflerent games or different desired results.

The medial groove 25 is bordered at each opposite end 23 of the die 2 bya flange 27 which preferably has flat surfaces on each side of the die.The dice slide on these surfaces on the alleys and contact with otherdice at the surfaces, so that the indicating band is protected andfriction is reduced. The edges at the junctures of the sides 24 of thedice are preferably rounded to assist in moving the dice in the deviceand in discharging them from the mixing chamber to the alley.

The game device is especially adapted for mixing and comparing sets eachcontaining a substantial number of dice, e.g., ten to twenty or more perset. Such a number of dice is contained in each alley 7a, b, and c, andthe same or a greater number is accommodated in the mixing chambers 6a,b, and c.

In operation of the device, the display arm 3 is elevated so that thedice fall from the alleys 7a, b, and c into the respective chambers 6a,b, and c. The arm may be rocked back and forth to cause the chamber orbowl 4 to rotate. The dice sets are broken up by the deflectors 13a, b,and c and are mixed thereby and by collisions with the sides 11 of thechambers, with the bumpers 6' and with each other. The dice are thusthoroughly mixed and the sides 24 are caused to rotate a number of timesabout the longitudinal axis through the centers of the ends 23. Afterthis shaking and mixing, the bowl 4 is elevated to discharge the dicefrom the several mixing chambers into the respective alleys, by way ofeach alley mouth 14. The dice slide down the respective alleys until allof the dice are in the alleys or the alleys are full.

The dice form in a single file in each alley, as illustrated at 28 inFIGURE 2. The first or outermost die abuts on the end closure 15, andthe file extends back to the last die. When the device is rested on atable or other support in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, on itsbase 18, there results a slight downward inclination of the alleys 7a,b, and c from the mixing chambers, which suflices to maintain them intheir abutting positions in the file. As illustrated in FIGURES l and 4,the dice rest in the same positions in the several alleys, so thattransverse rows 29 of dice are formed from the end 15 as far back as thedice extend. The number of dice in each row corresponds to the number ofsections a, b etc. provided in the housing 1.

The complete rows 29 of dice are viewed through the transparent panel22, so that the upper surfaces of the several adjacent dice may beviewed together. Employing letters of the alphabet as illustrated, wordgames may be played, such as determining the number of words formed insuch a fashion or attempting to form particular words. The patterns ofthe dice in the various rows may be determined, e.g., the number of likesymbols or indicia occurring in each row, their positions in the row,the number of matchings obtained in the number of rows corresponding tothe extent of the files 28 of dice, and other similar results. Theprobabilities of various pairings may be determined and illustrated.

The invention thus provides a novel, entertaining and educationalcombination which is simply and easily oper ated manually. The device isespecially versatile and permits of playing numerous games or serving avariety of purposes. The construction is compact, lightweight, and willaccommodate various lighting efiects. The apparatus is constructed tosimultaneously contain, shake, mix, align, and display a plurality ofsets of indicating elements, which are displayed together in adjacentfiles forming a plurality of rows of elements for rapid and accurateexamination and comparison. An important feature of the invention isthat the movement of the dice in each section is restricted to slidingmovement and turning movement about one axis. The mixing and displayoperation takes place smoothly and reliably, and the dice are preventedfrom sticking or being wedged in improper positions while functioning asdesired to display the desired sides after being thoroughly mixed androtated. The construction is sturdy and durable yet attractive.

It will be understood that variations in the construction of the housing1 and the dice 2 may be made while still accomplishing the objects ofthe invention. For example, the dice may take other shapes and sizes,the number of sections may be changed as desired, the relativearrangement of the display arm 3 and the chamber 4 may be varied, as maybe their constructions. Other deflectors may be provided in the mixingchambers and a plurality may be used. Deflecting pins or the like may beinserted in the chambers to provide deflecting and guiding functions.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A game device comprising, in combination, a housing and a pluralityof sets of dice, said housing including a plurality of side-by-side,enclosed, and hollow sections each containing one of said sets of dice,each of said sections comprising a hollow display arm and an enlarged,hollow mixing chamber communicating with said display arm, said mixingchambers each having a pair of parallel side walls and an end wallconnecting said side walls to form said hollow chamber, each of saidarms having a longitudinally extending passage for said dice in itsrespective section, which passage is of a width and depth slightlylarger than the corresponding dimensions of said dice whereby themovement of said dice in said passage is restricted to a nonrotating,sliding movement, each of said enlarged mixing chambers having its sidewalls spaced slightly greater than the width of the dice in therespective section whereby the mixing movement of said dice in saidchamber is restricted to sliding movement in said chamber and rotationof each die in a single place, a dice-deflecting member extending acrossthe center of each of said mixing chambers, the outermost edges of saiddeflecting member being spaced from said end wall of its respectivemixing chamber a distance greater than the largest dimension of saiddice whereby the dice can fall through said mixing chamber past saiddeflecting member when the chamber is inverted and whereby the fallingdice which strike said member may be tumbled thereby, and means forviewing a column of said dice in each of said display arms.

2. A game device comprising in combination a housing and a plurality ofsets of dice, said housing including a plurality of side-by-side,enclosed, and hollow sections each containing one of said sets of dice,each of said sections comprising a hollow display arm and an enlarged,hollow mixing chamber communicating with said display arm, said mixingchambers each having a pair of parallel side walls and an end wallconnecting said side walls toform said hollow chamber, each of said armshaving a longitudinally extending passage for said dice in itsrespective section, which passage is of a Width and depth slightlylarger than the corresponding dimensions of said dice whereby themovement of said dice in said passage is restricted to a nonrotating,sliding movement, each of said enlarged mixing chambers having its sidewalls spaced spaced slightly greater than the width of the dice in therespective section whereby the mixing movement of said dice in saidchamber is restricted to sliding movement in said chamber and rotationof each die in a single plane, a dice-deflecting member extending acrossthe center of each of said mixing chambers with dice-deflectingsurfaces, the deflecting surfaces of said dice-deflecting member being aplurality of outwardly-extending pairs of surfaces extending across eachmixing chamber and converging in a direction outwardly from the centerof the mixing chamber to a substantially pointed edge, the substantiallypointed edges of said deflecting member being spaced from said end wallof its respective mixing chamber a distance greater than the largestdimension of said dice whereby the dice can fall through said mixingchamber past said deflecting member when the chamber is inverted andwhereby the falling dice which strike said member may be tumbledthereby, and means for viewing a column of said dice in each of saiddisplay arms.

3. A game device comprising in combination a housing and a plurality ofsets of dice, said housing comprising a plurality of side-by-side,joined sections, each section having a substantially disc-shaped walland an elongated, integral wall coplanar with said substantiallydisc-shaped wall and projecting outwardly from said disc-shaped wall andan end wall integral with said substantially disc-shaped wall and saidelongated wall and forming a peripheral wall extending about the edgesof said substantially disc-shaped wall and said elongated wall atsubstantially right angles to said two last-mentioned walls, the freeedge of said end wall abutting against the disc-shaped Wall and theelongated wall of the next adjacent section, interengaging shoulders andrecessed edges on the abutting portions of said two last-mentioned wallsand said free edge of said end wall, outwardly projecting pegs spacedalong said free edge of said end wall, said pegs being seated incorresponding recesses in the substantially disc-shaped wall andelongated wall of the next adjacent section, a cover plate having adisc-shaped wall and an elongated, integral wall coplanar with saidsubstantially disc-shaped Wall, said cover plate being attached to thefree edge of the outermost section to enclose said section, said coverplate -having a plurality of recesses in which are seated the outwardlyprojecting pegs on the free edge of said outermost section, said joinedsections and said cover plate forming a plurality of side-by-sidehollow, cylindrical mixing chambers and hollow projecting display arms,a plurality of said display arms having a longitudinally extendingpassage for said dice in its respective section, a plurality of saidmixing chambers communicating respectively with one of said passages,one of said sets of dice in each of a plurality of said sections, saidend walls of each section being ofa height which is slightly greaterthan the width of the dice in the respective section, means for viewingthe dice in each of said plurality of display arms, and fixed bumpermeans in said mixing chambers for deflecting and tumbling dice movingtherein when said game device is shaken or inverted. I

4. The game device of claim 3 wherein the outermost end wall along oneside of each of said elongated walls is a straight wall which istangential with respect to the end wall of said disc-shaped'wall of itsrespective section whereby said joined outermost end walls form a fiat,lower surface. I v I References Cited in the file of this patent VUNITED STATES PATENTS 386,577 De Grain July 24, 1888 1,986,710 BrownJan. 1, 1935 2,132,050 Serdynski Oct. 4, 1938 2,178,193 Wade Oct. 31,1939 2,739,815 Fay Mar. 27, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 164,192 Austria Oct.10, 1949 I 634,076 Germany Aug. 15, 1936 UNITED :STATES PATENT. OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,010322v November, 2 1961 RaymondR. Ostergren It is hereby certified that error appears in the abovenumbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patentshould read as corrected below.

Column '4 line 5O for Ton-'7; read in column 6 line 6, for "place" readplane line 30,, strike out "spaced'h Signed and sealed this 15th day ofMay 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDEB DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

